Eddie Aikau and the Hokule’a voyage

by Brenda Yun on

If you’ve heard the term “Eddie Would Go,” then you most certainly know about the Hokule’a voyage — the second of its kind — that ended tragically when Eddie Aikau attempted to seek rescue by paddling to Lanai 33 years ago. If you know this, then you will definitely be excited to know that the upcoming Hokule’a voyage promises to be the biggest and most ambitious sailing trip of its kind.

But let’s first start with Eddie’s story, for those of you who are not familiar with it: Aikau’s story has been popularly retold by two of my teachers at Punahou School (which is Barack Obama’s alma mater too, by the way). Marion Lyman-Mersereau (my 8th grade Ethics teacher) wrote a children’s book called “Eddie Wen’ Go,” and Stuart Coleman (my 10th grade English teacher) wrote his biography titled “Eddie Would Go” with the assistance of several of Aikau’s close friends and family members.

This cool video will help you understand Eddie’s journey on the Hokule’a:

[more on current Hokule’a plans after the break]


Eddie Aikau remains one of Hawaii’s most beloved figures, and his legend lives on in many forms, most notably, the Hokule’a voyage and, more recently, through the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational that is held on the North Shore of Oahu in Waimea Bay if a massive swell hits the bay just right to create enormous 5-story waves for surfers to paddle into.

Following Eddie’s untimely death, locals termed “Eddie Would Go” as a reminder to live life to its fullest. Now, news of the latest Hokule’a voyage is spreading across the islands and the mainland, as preparations for one of the biggest and longest sailing journeys is in its final stages. The voyaging canoe is currently en route to the Palmyra Atoll, where 12 different crews will be trained to later embark on a 37-month, 40-country journey around the world.

The purpose of this ambitious sailing trip, organized by the Polynesian Voyaging Society, is to remind the public of the days when sailors traveled the seas by recognizing wave patterns and guiding themselves by the stars. Come 2012, the Hokule’a intends to invite scientists, educators, and other social leaders on the journey in an effort to teach them about the importance of protecting the ocean and marine-dependent ecosystems as well as to encourage them to consider more carefully marine-related policies, protection, and management.

Locals here on the islands are hoping the “Hokule’a Will Go.” It sounds like quite the adventure and the perfect educational experience.

Exploring the Kenyan Coast by Dhow

by Kraig Becker on

A dhow is a small sailing vessel that is traditionally found along the coasts stretching from India to Eastern Africa. They have their origins in Arabia, and were once trading vessels that ran far and wide, delivering precious goods far and wide, and while they have been replaced by modern freight ships, the tradition of the dhow still lives on in many countries.

Kevin Gould, travel writer for the The Guardian, found his own dhow experience in the Lamu archipelago, a series of small islands stretching along the northern coast of Kenya and the Somalian border. The archipelago is a place that still holds tightly to its roots, with simple villages with huts fashioned from palms. It is a place where the inhabitants still catch fish using a spear and relax in the shade of mangrove trees hundreds of years old.

Gould describes a place that few outsiders visit. He notes that the locals are friendly and open to visitors from abroad, welcoming them warmly. The crystal clear waters of the archipelago give way to pristine beaches, under cloudless skies, and traveling by dhow grants access to some prime snorkeling locations.

For adventurous travelers on the look out for unique travel experiences, this looks like another amazing experience. The chance to visit a place that few others have the opportunity to see, and to travel there in such a unique fashion, makes this a tempting journey.

Invest in yourself in St. Lucia, earn a $1,000 return

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Hotels are giving incentives like crazy. They just want your business. The latest comes from RockResort’s The Landings St. Lucia. Book five nights through the “Invest in Yourself” deal, and you’ll get a resort credit of $1,000. This makes it a lot easier to book a few spa treatments, eat like royalty or hit the greens. You can also apply the credit to activities on the water, from snorkeling trips to sailing and waterskiing lessons.

The entry point is $490 a night, which gets you a Deluxe Harbor Front Villa suite. Your home away from home will have two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, which works well if you travel with a family or a group of friends. So, if you need a break from the grind, this is it! Get down to St. Lucia, and invest in a little relaxation.

[Photo via RockResort’s The Landings St. Lucia]

The Volvo Ocean Race heads Eastward

by Grant Martin on

Somewhere in the South China Sea, seven VO70s are pushing northeast towards Qingdao. They’re part of the Volvo Ocean Race, the round-the-world sailing competition that happens once every four years, pitting the best in technology and skill against some the wildest oceans on the planet. It’s an intense, nine month race, with stops around the world in five continents, in port racing, fanfare, glory and loss. More than one team has experienced hardship on the seas, both technical and fiscal — team Russia just pulled out of the race because they couldn’t afford the massive fees.

Later this spring, after a treacherous crossing of the South Pacific and a hook around Cape Horn, the fleet will work its way up past Brazil and towards the US. May 9th in Boston marks their only event in the United States, so if you’re interested in seeing the amazing group of ships you should stop by for the in port race. After that they’ll be headed to Western Europe and finally towards the finish line in St. Petersburg.

We’ll keep you updated on the fleet and their arrival into Massachusetts. In the meantime, check out the media intensive volvooreanrace.org for a wealth of updates, news, pictures and data.

Snorkeling Maui’s Molokini Crater

by Jeremy Kressmann on

I love to snorkel. Living in New York, it’s not something I get to do very often (East River anyone?) so I jump at the chance to try it any time I’m traveling somewhere more tropical. Hawaii is an especially good spot for snorkeling fans, offering an embarassment of good spots where you can literally walk into the water off the beach and see all kinds of neon-hued fish, giant sea turtles and all sorts of weird-looking coral formations.

Recently I had a chance to check one of Maui’s most famous snorkel spots, Molokini Crater. This tiny crescent-shaped island, just off Maui’s southern coast, is actually the remains of a long extinct volcano. Today, it’s a recognized wildlife sanctuary, home to hundreds of species of marine life, including huge fish, sea urchins, coral, shrimp and all manner of nesting sea birds. Due to the island’s unique crescent shape, it’s largely sheltered from the dangerous ocean currents, making it the ideal place to check out some cool underwater life in a unique setting. Upon entering the water, I was surprised by my surroundings. The water depth is much deeper than I’ve typically found when snorkeling, reaching down almost 40-50 feet. The visibility at Molokini was also fantastic, allowing for great underwater views in all directions. Not to mention I was surrounded by hundreds of triggerfish like the one you see in my picture above. Divers and snorkelers come out to the area fairly regularly, so they’re not afraid to swim right up to you for a closer look. As I swam around, I encountered all manner of sea urchins, angelfish and even an octopus. Definitely on par with some of the best snorkeling I’ve done. I won’t try to claim I was by myself – a large number of boats and snorkelers visit the island each day. However, it was easy enough to swim away from the crowds and find myself all alone with nothing but the sound of me breathing through my snorkel tube.

Since Molokini lies well off Maui’s coast, you’ll need to take a charter cruise to reach it. Depending on what you want, trips can run anywhere from $70-$100, typically including an hour or two of snorkeling, lunch/breakfast and the opportunity to laze around on a sailboat, cocktail in hand. We ended up using Paragon, who charter a small catamaran and had a very friendly staff, though I will say they were a bit casual about confirming our reservation.

And what about all you land lovers? Fear not, you can still check out some cool Hawaiian marine life. Take a visit the Maui Ocean Center, which I hear is fantastic.